A night with the Rajun Cajun

Yesterday was Fat Tuesday and in our circle of friends we have a Lake Charles transplant, Celeste, who needed some cheering up. She was homesick for all the festivities that occur in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, so I decided we needed to celebrate. A local radio station was having a Fat Tuesday party with a few bands that are a throw back to mix tapes and Jr. High. We decided we had to go. I also had to pull off a covert operation to get her the best crawfish DFW has to offer.



Nate’s Steak & Seafood is famous, and on Fat Tuesday it’s busting at the seams with people. The wait to get into the parking lot alone was 20 min. I sat in the parking mess and waited to talk to a hostess about getting an order “to go” only to be told that on that day they “don’t do take out”. WHAT? Right. I came this far, and no one was going to stop me. Celeste needed gumbo dammit! So I kindly went back to the hostess and asked for a table for one. I was seated, and when the waitress came around I told her that I was going to order a few items, which she was going to bring to me, and that I was going to eat a few bites and ask for to go containers. She looked at me terrified and told me “We’re not supposed to do that today” I said “I know, but if you do you will make someone’s day and I will leave you a very nice tip:” 20 min later I was on my way with a few pounds of crawfish and gumbo.

We stuffed our faces and headed to a theater nearby. We were covered in beads, and Celeste wore an appropriate t-shirt that said “New Orleans is for lovers”. The people watching alone was worth the price of admission with young and old, men and women etc…and the bar was serving some stiff drinks. We were vodka energized after one cocktail.

Performance #1. Do any of you remember the line “Dressed in yellow she said hello”? Oh yeah…Young MC was the opener. I have to say…he was still very good, and the crowd went nuts. His warm up pants were so tight that I made mention to Celeste that he was wearing boxers…she pointed out to me that actually they were clearly boxer briefs. Good times.

Performance #2. We “Jumped on it” with the Sugar Hill Gang. Yes they are ancient, but that was the performance of the night. They rocked it, really. They also told us that they are still big in Germany. Ha. One guy looks exactly like Al…Star Jones husband. Another had on the 80’s old school vest and the largest belt buckle you have ever seen. Not to mention his shirt was tucked into his jeans…with the belt. The third guy was very modern day…he was blinged out, bling on the cap, shades, jacket, belt and the ensemble came with a cane and all. We loved the cane.

Performance #3. You Down with OPP? I have so many memories of this Naughty by Nature cd. My high school buddy Robyn left it to me in her senior will.

*Sidebar: Did you all have those…Senior Will’s where you left things to people?

Back to NbN. We were getting tired at this point…I’m not used to being out on a school night, stuffed with Cajun food and holding a very nice buzz. They started the set with the ever popular “OPP” but the group took an immediate thug u-turn. They brought out the Hennessey, and the one singer who has Tu-Pac tattooed on his forearm started pouring it on his arm while yelling out “when I drink, you drink” among other not so mentionable things. They started throwing the Westside gang signs and rapping on and on about Tu Pac, and Biggie etc. At that point we decided it was a good time to go.